Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-27
f0lobe- Demo ratl

f0lobe-Demo ,ratl
Probably the French Legion OF Honor
is the most widely known OF all the pale,
modern refiexes OF the orders OF knight
hood as they existed in the days OF
chivalry. Since the founding OF the
order under the first Napoleon its cross
has, il except the short reactionary
period under Louis XVIII. and Charles
<. always been deeply reverenced by
all Frenchmen, and the wesrer, espe-
cially il soldier. has commanded uni
versal respect. The shock to the public
mind, when il was found that the
crosses had for years been sold for
money TO ignoble, or, at least. I'M
worthy people, was consequently pro
found. SO great was the blow that it
has been proposed to do away With the
whole affair and have no more decora-
tons. As, however, it has been shown
that the same set of sharpers-Wilson,
Andlau, Caffarel and company-had,
among other things, sold bishopric to
an aspiring priest, and had actually OBJ
tanned for him the mitre (; had procured
for some one else admission to the most
exclusive clubs, aud introduced others
tito the world of fashion, it might as
well be proposed to abolish religion and
society. Certainly no one who has at
heart the efficiency of the French army
would wish TO do away with the Cross OF
the Legion or its younger brother, the
military medal.
Both in conception and in actual prac-
ticc, when in honest hands, the French
Legion of Honor is purely democratic :;
in this differing from any previous deco
ration given since the days of the Ro-
mans. 1t is easy to see its great adyan-
tage in an army. A mon performs a
deed of exceptional valor; he IS unfit
ted, from want OF education or other
reasons, for promotion; the cross salts
fes his highest ambition. From that
time on he is a marked man among his
fellows. aud on his breast hangs the
visible sign OF his heroism. As he passes
along the street he, the simple private
in the ranks, is saluted by sentries
and others as they woul1 salute an Of
ticer. He receives a small penslon-
about $50 year-for life, and even his
children are somewhat benefited, for, II
later in life he marries, IN excellent
boarding school is provided by the Gov
eminent for his daughters, where even
clothing is given to all. After his en-
forced term of service is over he is apt
to enlist again and again, becoming the
professional soldier so useful IN all
armies. but especially in those where
c0nscripiion yearly brings a host OF raw,
unframed, and unwilling lads INTO the
ranks. He is also more apt II fitted, to
be promoted, and the French soldier
still carries The baton Of Il marshal Of
Frhncc in his knarsack."
Before the great revolution the French
decorations, such as the Cross OF Saint
Louis and the rest, were reserved eXciu-
sively for men of noble birth, and the
prefix Of "Chevalier served, among
other things, to give a title to younger
sons who, although from the ranks OF the
nobility, were simply Messieurs de Tel
leettcllc. All the aristocratlc orders OF
France were swept away on the first
wave of the mighty uprising. In the
army the road to promotion was thrown
open. Not only was birth 10 longer
necessary III an officer, but, when
the other requisite qualities were
found, even education was no longer a
necessity, and many a distinguished
general could with difficulty have passed
the pre- ent examination for promotion
to the rank of sergeant. 1t was remem-
bered that CharlemaRne, by many
thought the most successful, II not the
greatest man that ever lived, had not
only been a great CAPTAIN, a knight such
ms Roland had loved TO follow, but a
profound law. giger and an emperor,
wisely ruling over many lands and
races, yet knew not how to read
or write. Something WAS conceded
10 the change OF period, but if an ambl-
tious soldier could write a dispatch and
read one, little else of an educational
kind was required But there were
brave men not fitted for promotion.
Where one man had won his cpaulets,
there were others who deserved well oil
their country, yet whose promotion v as
not for the general good. To recon-
pense these, sabres Of honor were at first
given, and then the fertile brain OF
Napoleon devised the Legion OF
Honor. A list was prepared OF
all such as held these sabros OF
honor, or had especially distinguished
themselves, and the order was thus
formed Napoleon, grand master 10.
+ grand officers, 300 commanders 40 Of
ticers, and 1865 chevaliers, with yearly
pay ranging from 5000 francs for the
grand officers to 200 francs for the sim
pie cheyaliers. As many Of these crosses
were worn by soldiers who were disabled
by wounds. the number, 4,j2l in all
was small for the whole army, and th1
decorations were priced beyond expires
sion.
Louis XVIII. retained the Legion o
Honor, but 20 the disgust OF the army
he, on reviving al. of the old orders
placed the Legion at the bottom OF TN
list i'll the matter of precedence. Unde
the "Citizen King" Louis Philippe
all but the Legion were again abolished
Under Napoleon III. the numbers wer
fixed at eighty grand crosses, 300 CRANE
officers, ], 900 commanders, 1000 officers
and an indefinite number Of cheyalers
Since 1870 the number Of officers bav
been doubled, being now 1000, and b.
law the number of chevaliers was place.
at %, 900. However, rs since the fell o
the empire no one in high places seem
to have cared much for the law
pissed by the weak, snarling, eve
quarrelling, and simply self-seelling lie
gslature the sole object Of whose mem
bers seems party triumph or the satisiac
ton Of personal greed, and the grea
majority Of whom appear incapable o
taking national or patriotic view OF an.
question, the number of choyaliers Ina
constantly varied. In 1874 the militar
members (by law three fifths of tn
whole numbered 80, 793-say, at leas
1900 to $4,000 in all. There had bee
no war, and ninety nine hundredths Q
these crosses had undoubtedly been sol
either for cash or political support, alon
with the bishopricS, memberships to tn
Jockey Club, etc.
The lower-lying fact is that although
the popular Indignation was perfectly le
gitimate, no one could have looked at til
boundlcss extravaganza of the Frenc
Officials, since the presidency OF Nc Ma
hon at least, without seeing that some
thing was radically wrong. Few G
these officials had private fortunes, an
their scale of living has been simply al
surd for the official income.
| remember, after seeing the gorgeOu